Slovakian Peter Sagan was crowned the new "King of California" today as he won the 10th Annual 2015 Amgen Tour of California in Pasadena with a slim 3-second margin, the tightest result in the history of the event.
"I think I was surprised by my effort," said Sagan, 25, on the NBC telecast, after beating the 127 other men in the eight-day race.
Sagan won two stages of the nearly 700-mile race, which began in Sacramento and included tours around Lake Tahoe and through Lodi, Pismo Beach and Santa Barbara before finishing over the last three days in Santa Clarita, Mount Baldy Village, Azusa and on today's course, from downtown Los Angeles to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe finished a close second to Sagan.
The eight-stage race concluded Sunday with a 65.4-mile stage from downtown Los Angeles to the Rose Bowl. Alaphilippe held a two-second lead over Sagan.
The stage started at 9:15 a.m. on Chick Hearn Court, between Staples Center and L.A. Live. The field circled near the start, then headed north on Spring Street to Pasadena Avenue, going through Chinatown, Lincoln Heights, Cypress Park, Mount Washington, Montecito Heights, Highland Park and Eagle Rock to Pasadena.
The riders raced a nearly one 3.1-mile circuit of the Rose Bowl before reaching the finish line on West Drive.
The eight-stage, 724.1-mile race began last Sunday in Sacramento.
A group of 10 cancer survivors selected in a nationwide search, including two from Los Angeles County and one each from Orange and Riverside counties, will participate in the "Breakaway Mile," a special walk along the race course to honor the millions of cancer survivors worldwide and be honored at the finish.
